Person:Ralph Farmer (5)

Rev. Ralph Farmer Obituary Publication: The Hawk Eye Pub. Date: 8/22/02

Ralph Farmer

The Rev. Ralph Henry Farmer, 67, of West Branch, died after a short illness Friday, Aug. 23, 2002, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Born Aug. 16, 1935, at the Flathead Indian Reservation in Ronan, Mont., he was the son of John Thomas and Bess Celesia Kuhns Farmer. The family moved to Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in 1939. On April 22, 1957, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Mark in Malta, Mont.

The Rev. Farmer served as pastor for 35 years to churches in Kesley, Moorcroft and Pine Ridge, Wyo., Strasburg, Byers and Bennett, Colo., Wolsey and Bonilla, S.D., and for 23 years at First Church United in West Liberty. He retired in 1997 and settled in West Branch. He was an interim pastor for the past five years in Brighton, Washington, Keokuk, New London and Apache Junction, Ariz.

He was a 1953 graduate of Harlem High School in Harlem, Mont., and a 1957 graduate of Kings College in Ossining, N.Y. He was a 1962 graduate of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

He enjoyed his interaction with the community during his tenure at West Liberty as he helped organize the Voluntary Action Council in 1977, West Liberty Area Hospice program in 1984, Share food distribution program in 1994 and served on the board of directors for the West Liberty Community Center Complex building project. He was a member of Rotary International (Paul Harris Fellow); Mount Calvary Lodge 95 A.F. & A.M.; and Order of the Eastern Star Lotus Chapter 320. In his spare time he enjoyed camping and gardening.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Jim Farmer of West Branch and Steve Farmer of Iowa City; two daughters, Debra Hop of Boone and Maria Cadena of Glen Carbon, Ill.; one foster son, Christopher Whitehead of Mesa, Ariz.; seven grandchildren; one sister, Alice Farmer Smith of Vista, Calif.; and a number of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant brother.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at First Church United, 1100 N. Calhoun St., West Liberty, with a Masonic service immediately following.

The funeral for the Rev. Farmer will be at 10 a.m. Monday at First Church United. Burial will be in PeeDee Cemetery in West Branch.

A memorial has been established in his name.

Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is in charge of arrangements.